Admin September 26, 2024
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Kickers gave fantasy football owners hope to begin the season by showing incredible accuracy from beyond 50 yards over the first two weeks. Things came back down to earth in Week 3, as a handful of more prominent kickers endured misses that frustrated fantasy managers everywhere.
Predicting kicker success is never an easy thing to do, but it typically follows a simple formula. Trust guys with strong legs on good offenses, and they will find a way to score points for your fantasy teams.
Not every player will produce week-in and week-out like Harrison Butker and Brandon Aubrey do, but there are still ways for fantasy owners to raise the floor of their kicking games. It’s all about finding players who have many opportunities to score while avoiding those in less favorable situations.
With that in mind, here’s a breakdown of the best kickers to trust in fantasy football for Week 4 of the 2024 NFL season.
Fantasy football start ’em: Week 4 Kickers
Matt Prater, Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals figure to have a good offensive matchup against the Washington Commanders. Through three weeks, Washington is allowing the fourth-most points per game (29.3), while Arizona is scoring the fourth-most per game (27.3).
Prater has made two field goals in his three starts this year and hasn’t yet missed a kick to open the season. Now is the great time to back him in what could be a repeat of the Commanders’ 38-33 “Monday Night Football” should against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Austin Seibert, Washington Commanders
The Commanders seem to have found their long-term kicker. Seibert has made his first eight field goal attempts with the team, and Washington’s offense’s performance on “Monday Night Football” against the Bengals should inspire hope that he will have a high floor every week.
The Cardinals are a good matchup for Seibert, as they rank 17th in yards allowed per game (323.3) and 18th in points allowed per game (21.3). That should allow Jayden Daniels to continue to move the ball and give Seibert a chance to take plenty of kicks. He has attempted 13 total (eight field goals, five extra points) over his first two games.
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Brayden Narveson, Green Bay Packers
The Packers are facing a well-coached Minnesota Vikings defense that has allowed just 10 points per game to its opponents through three weeks. On the surface, that may make Narveson seem like a fade, but it’s worth noting that Brian Flores’ defense has often bent but not broken through three weeks. The Packers figure to move the ball on the team that has allowed the second-most passing yards per game to opposing quarterbacks (266.3).
If the Packers get to the red zone but are routinely stopped, that should set Narvenson up for at least a couple of field goal attempts. He has made at least three field goals in his first three games, which makes him an intriguing streaming pickup, provided the weather at Lambeau Field isn’t too bad.
Fantasy football sit ’em: Week 4 Kickers
Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens
Tucker reigns as the most accurate kicker in NFL history, but he has gotten off to a slow start in 2024, making just 5-of-8 field goals and missing one in his three games. What gives? Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Tucker is working through “a technique issue” but said he was “confident” the 34-year-old veteran would bounce back soon.
That won’t be much comfort to fantasy owners hoping Tucker can regain his top form imminently. Add in that Tucker is facing a Buffalo Bills defense, allowing just 16 points per game, and it’s worth wondering whether the kicker will have the opportunities needed to put up a top-10 score.
Cameron Dicker, Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers’ offense might be significantly shorthanded in their Sunday afternoon game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Justin Herbert is dealing with an ankle injury that may keep him out of action, while both of the team’s starting offensive tackles, Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, are banged-up and may be sidelined before Los Angeles’ Week 5 bye.
Los Angeles struggled to move the ball on the Steelers in Week 3 after Herbert exited the game because of his injury. It won’t be much easier for them to do so against the Chiefs, so Dicker’s upside is limited.
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Jake Moody, San Francisco 49ers
Moody made six field goals in the 49ers’ season-opening win over the New York Jets, but he has been just 2-for-3 on field goals since then and missed a 50-plus-yard kick in San Francisco’s Week 3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Moody has the leg needed to be an asset, but he doesn’t have a great matchup in Week 4. The New England Patriots‘ defense can be difficult to score on, but they struggled last week without Ja’Whaun Bentley calling plays. Brock Purdy showed an ability to score touchdowns even without Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle, so it’s hard to trust that Moody will get the opportunities needed to be a top-12 kicker this week.
Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’ems, Week 4
Looking for more fantasy football advice? USA TODAY Sports has you covered:
→ The wide receiver position has been decimated this season. Protect yourself in Week 4 with start ’em, sit ’em advice for wideouts.
→ Need an edge under center? Here are the best quarterback options to start and to sit in Week 4.
→ Tight ends can be the perfect X-factor for any fantasy team. Here’s who you should start and sit in Week 4.
→ A good running back makes all the difference. A bad running back can cost you a lot of points. Here’s who to start and who to sit in Week 4.
→ A good defense can shut down your fantasy opponent’s offense. Here are some D/ST options to start and sit for Week 4.